The Nursing Associate Trainees shared their experiences of their first year of the scheme, working alongside existing Nursing Care Support Workers and registered nurses to deliver hands-on care for patients.

Clare Alden-Salter, a care support worker who is part of the scheme, said: “From our first year we have all gained more courage and confidence to speak up about what our new role is and who we are and how we bridge the gap between the nurse and the health care assistant. We have learnt that we are part of one team.”

The new Nursing Associate role aims to help bridge the gap between health and support workers, who have a care certificate and graduate registered nurses. It has been developed to allow nurses to focus on the more advanced elements of their job and to offer improved career pathway opportunities to emerging talent.

The TNA programme is a partnership being the University, Luton and Dunstable Hospital, East London Foundation Trust and Cambridge Community Services NHS Trust, and is led by Bedford Hospital.

The University’s Head of School of Health Care Practice Dr Barbara Burden said: “We were delighted to hear that our Nursing Associate Trainees have had such a positive experience in their first year of the programme, and that they have been able to gain new skills and build on existing ones as they prepare for a new and vital role within the NHS.”